(Image: Beaulieu)
A motor museum will remain part of the Beaulieu visitor attraction even if the National Motor Museum Trust relocates when its lease expires in 2030, bosses have said.
Beaulieu has moved to reassure visitors following the Trust's announcement last week that it intends to seek a new home when its 60-year lease comes to an end.
In a statement, the attraction said it would continue operating a motor museum and revealed that many of the vehicles currently on display are either owned by the Montagu family or on loan and would remain at Beaulieu.
The National Motor Museum Trust recently described a potential move as a "once in a generation opportunity" to transform the museum and expand its educational and community work.
However, Beaulieu said motoring would continue to play a central role in the attraction regardless of where the Trust is ultimately based.
A spokesperson said: "When Edward, Lord Montagu first opened Palace House to visitors in 1952, he displayed five veteran cars in the entrance hall as a tribute to his father and motoring pioneer, John Scott Montagu.
"This was the beginning of what became the Montagu Motor Museum, before evolving into the National Motor Museum as we know it today.
"While we acknowledge the important role the Trust has played in Beaulieu's story, motoring is an integral part of the Montagu family history and will continue to have an important place in our Beaulieu visitor experience.
"The day-to-day operation of the museum will not change from a visitor experience perspective and Beaulieu intends to continue to operate a motor museum in the future, as it has for over 70 years.
"A significant amount of vehicles in the museum are either on loan or owned by the Montagu family and will continue to stay here."
Beaulieu also said its programme of motoring events would be unaffected by the Trust's plans, with no changes to its events calendar.
The attraction confirmed the International Autojumble, one of its biggest annual events, will go ahead as planned in September.
The Trust's lease at Beaulieu has another four years to run while it considers options for a future site.
Looking beyond 2030, Beaulieu said the end of the lease would provide "an exciting opportunity" to reshape how the museum at the attraction looks and feels, while continuing to welcome visitors to the New Forest site.